Apple’s Messages App: Key Upgrades Coming Soon
▼ Summary
– Apple confirmed last year it would add end-to-end encryption for RCS messages in a future iOS update, initially implying iOS 26.
– As of iOS 26.3, end-to-end encryption and other major RCS protocol upgrades are still missing.
– Apple’s initial RCS implementation used version 2.4, which lacked encryption and only provided basic features like read receipts.
– The planned upgrade to RCS version 3.0 will bring end-to-end encryption, while version 2.7 adds features like message editing, deletion, and proper reactions.
– Recent carrier bundle updates suggest these RCS upgrades are likely coming soon, potentially with iOS 26.4, but not in the current iOS 26.3 release.
Apple’s Messages app is poised for significant enhancements, with major upgrades to the RCS (Rich Communication Services) protocol expected to arrive soon. These changes promise to dramatically improve the texting experience between iPhone and Android users, bringing features long enjoyed within iMessage to cross-platform conversations. While Apple initially implemented a basic version of RCS, the forthcoming updates will introduce crucial privacy and functionality improvements that users have been anticipating.
The most anticipated upgrade is the introduction of end-to-end encryption for RCS messages. This powerful security feature, a cornerstone of iMessage, ensures that only the sender and recipient can read the contents of a message. Apple confirmed its commitment to this standard last year, following the publication of the RCS Universal Profile 3.0 by the GSMA. The company stated it would add support for encrypted RCS across its operating systems in a future software update. Currently, the RCS implementation on iPhone uses version 2.4, which lacks this fundamental privacy protection, offering only basic features like read receipts and higher-resolution media sharing.
Beyond encryption, the jump to newer RCS versions will unlock a suite of modern messaging capabilities. The update will bring the protocol much closer to parity with other platforms, including iMessage itself. Version 2.7 of RCS, for instance, introduced several highly-requested features that are currently missing. These include the ability to edit sent messages, delete or recall them, and use in-line replies to keep conversations organized. Proper support for reactions is also on the way. Right now, if an Android user reacts to a message, an iPhone will only display a fallback text notification. The upgrade will allow those reactions to appear as proper emoji responses directly on the message bubble.
Recent developments suggest these features are on the immediate horizon. Carrier configuration bundles released with a recent iOS beta indicated that some mobile operators could enable end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging by default. This technical preparation strongly hints that Apple is in the final stages of testing and could roll out the enhanced RCS support in an upcoming software release, potentially with the next round of beta updates.
These upgrades represent a substantial step forward for universal messaging. The combination of strong encryption with more dynamic communication tools will make texting between different operating systems a smoother, more secure, and more functional experience for everyone involved.
(Source: 9to5Mac)
